GORDON Brown today signalled his support for a new debate on voting reform for Westminster elections - possibly including votes at 16.

GORDON Brown today signalled his support for a new debate on voting reform for Westminster elections - possibly including votes at 16.

The proposals are among 30 recommendations in a new report by an independent inquiry into British democracy, which won a positive response from the Chancellor as it was released today.

Without explicitly committing himself to any of the Power Inquiry's recommendations, Mr Brown made it clear he shared its aim of re-engaging voters with the political process and encouraging active citizenship.

The Chancellor said Britain was witnessing "the rise of a new kind of citizen, involved in their neighbourhoods and now demanding the right to set the agenda".

Manifesto

His Budget on March 22 will seek to encourage the "practical responsible citizenship in action" displayed by local associations, charities and voluntary organisations, which take on jobs the government finds difficult to do, he says.

In a sign he is already preparing to lead Labour into the general election expected in 2009, Mr Brown said the next manifesto should make long-term constitutional reform - including devolution of power to a more local level - a priority.

He has already signalled support for the completion of Lords reform and a reduction in the Prime Minister's prerogative to declare war and peace.

And today he said: "The Power Report opens the way to renewed debate on issues from the role of parties and electoral reform to voting at 16."